But how do you quantify how Tchani has played better, aside from the fact that he notched his first assist of the season last Saturday in a 3-0 win against Chicago? I asked Bliss.

“I think he’s taking care of the ball better in terms of his pass percentage completion,” the coach said. “He’s playing more balls in behind defenses to put guys out of the play, which we knew he could do ever since he was a college player. He’s definitely increased his work rate defensively to go pressure other guys. Rather than being satisfied with just being close to somebody, he’s actually getting into somebody. There’s a difference. I think he’s made big improvements there in the last month.”

During his last two starts, Tchani has completed 100 of 119 passes (84.0 percent). In a June 5 start against Philadelphia – a 3-0 loss that cost Tchani his spot in the lineup and ended a seven-game stretch as a starter – he completed 50 of 58 (86.2 percent). So again, it’s hard to quantify that Tchani is playing better.

For that, Tchani credited the environment fostered by Bliss.

“I think it has to be that breath of fresh air first of all and second of all I have somebody who will push everybody, not just me,” Tchani said. “He’s not focused on certain players; he’s focused on the whole team trying to make everybody better. With that feeling you think, ‘OK, I can work harder and show what I can do.’ Also the fact that he lets you play. He understands that one or two mistakes are going to happen in a game; just make sure that third or fourth time is a good one and make it a game-changer. He doesn’t yell at people. He’s just positive and everybody is working hard.”

Major League Soccer's official game recap from the Chicago win named Tchani the man of the match while crediting Bliss, saying, “If Brian Bliss can get Tchani to play like this every week, he should be knighted. Or something.”

It's not all been roses, however. Tchani admitted to a rough start against the Fire before finding his way as the game progressed, and Bliss said the former No. 2 overall draft pick is still growing into the player he could eventually become.

After the aforementioned seven-game stretch in the starting lineup, Tchani accumulated 30 minutes in three reserve appearances spread over the team’s next 12 games. His big break came when Wil Trapp injured his knee in Bliss’ first game and Tchani excelled as a substitute in 51 minutes of action.

When he got the call to check in, Tchani said he was actually headed back to the field after going to the bathroom.

“I got my things on and I went and played that game,” Tchani said. “From there, I’m just working hard. I think things just clicked. I just feel like everything was brand new and I’m coming into a new team. Everybody is feeling the same way, not just me. You’re always going to make mistakes. You’re going to do bad stuff, but it’s about how you respond from that.”

Trapp said Tchani’s response has been impressive.

“If you come in and you do well in your first game, that gives you confidence and then the next game you grow off of it,” he said. “I think for him, that was the case. His first game, he played really, really well and when you’re playing well coach is going to leave you in there.”